Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park

Deep in the poetic scenery, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park fast becomes well known as one of the most beautiful attractions in Vietnam. Dubbed as “Kingdom of the cave”, it has strongly attracted the great number of both domestic and foreign tourists.

Phong Nha Ke Bang is a natural beautiful landscape that the Creator has bestowed on Quang Binh province in particular and on Vietnam in general, a piece of land associated with the heroic feats of the history. Here, the harmonic combination of primitive forests, Son River, and caves creating a watercolor painting that captivates numerous people. Phong Nha Ke Bang was organized as a Natural World Heritage by UNESCO in 2003.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is situated in North Truong Son ecoregion, covering administrative borderlines of Bo Trach district, Minh Hoa district, and Quang Ninh district. It is evaluated as one of 238 important ecological regions over the world. This is the largest Karst region with an area of 200,000 hectares, a typical sample of geological process on Karst and cave formation, which has been globally happening not only in the field of biodiversity but also the best scenery in caves of the world.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park dubbed the “Kingdom of the cave” is home to more than 300 spectacular multi-shaped caves. It still hides numerous attractive mysteries and is worth a paradise for cave scientists, explorers and tourists. So far, more than 170 caves with total length of hundreds of kilometers have been surveyed systematically and thoroughly. Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park was valuated as one of the most beautiful sights with characteristics as follows: the cave with the longest underground river, the highest and widest entrance, the most beautiful sandbank and reef, the most beautiful underground lake, the widest and most beautiful dry cave, the most spectacular stalactites, and the longest water grotto.  Among caves, Phong Nha Cave is truly outstanding by the survey length of nearly 8km, mainly with underground rivers. In addition, Vom (Arch) Cave with the total length of more than 15 km is listed as the cave with the longest underground rivers in the world.

Along with the system of miraculous caves, Trooc River, Chay River and Son River in Phong Nha – Ke Bang region with the fresh blue streams winding among rocky-forested areas have created a poetic beauty as a magnificent water – color painting. Tourist will be actually lost in a dreaming and romantic heaven when setting foot in the beautiful land.

Additionally, Phong Nha – Ke Bang primeval forest with dozens of peaks over 1,000m high, full of obstacles and no human footprints, is an attractive rendezvous for climbing and exploring. Among them, Peak Co Rilata with the height of 1,128 m, Co Preu with 1,213m high should be actually named. Interspersing among over 1,000m mountain peaks are wonderful valleys and lower peaks of 800 – 1,000m high, namely Phu Sinh, Ma Ma, which facilitates ecotourism and climbing. Especially, Ma Tac Mountain owning 721m high with the surface of 70 hectare wide actually left a deep impression to tourists’ mind.

In Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, there still exists a primitive tropical forest with less impact on the coverage of 96.2% and high biological diversity. According to the survey data, there is an appearance of many endemic plant species of the limestone forest such as “Cho nuoc” (platanus kerrii), “Cho Dai Nghien” (Burretiodendronhsienmu), “Tram Huong” (Agarwood), “Ba Kích”, “Sao”… Notably, in the populations of vessel plants, there are 38 species of listed in Vietnam Red Book, 25 species listed in the IUCN Red Book (International Union for Conservation of Nature), and 13 endemic species belonged to Vietnam. Apart from a variety of plant resources, regarding fauna, National Park have identified 140 species of large mammals, in which 35 species have been listed in the Vietnam Red Book and 19 species described in the Red Book of IUCN.

Among 356 species of birds, 15 species have been listed in the Vietnam Red Book and 19 species listed in the Red Book of IUCN. In addition, the park is also home to 99 species of reptiles and amphibians, 259 species of butterflies, 162 species of fishes, and 47 species of frogs. Especially, forests on limestone have concentrated a significant population of primates in Vietnam, with 10 species are recorded, accounting for about 50% of total species of primates in Vietnam. Compared to other conservation areas and national parks in Vietnam, the richness and diversity of animal species in Phong Nha – Ke Bang is relatively high. The number of rare species, especially primates is the highest in whole country.

Beside the precious flora and fauna, Phong Nha – Ke Bang has been maintained the highly valuable historical and cultural heritage of many ages, such as archaeological heritages of prehistory, Cham and ancient Vietnamese culture, and landmarks on the Ho Chi Minh trail: Xuan Son ferry, Nguyen Van Troi ferry. An exploration of these sites will actually offer valuable knowledge on the Vietnam country and local people.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park has become a favorite address of tourists. The number of tourists has gradually increased, especially when it was recognized as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. Along with My Son Holy Land, Hoi An Ancient Town, Hue Ancient Capital, Phong Nha – Ke Bang tourism has formed a unique tourist route “Central Heritage Road”, which promisingly creates the ideal attraction to both domestic and foreign tourists.